Mobile DJ's

Mobile Disc Jockeys (or Mobile DJs) travel or tour with mobile sound systems and play from an extensive collection of pre-recorded music for a targeted audience.

In the past, Mobile DJs utilized formats such as vinyl records or cassettes. During the Disco era of the 1970s, demand for Mobile DJs soared. Top Disc Jockeys in this era would have hundreds of vinyl records and/or cassette tapes. The equipment used in this era was enormous and usually required roadies (similar to those who work for bands) to set up. While many Club Disc Jockeys still use vinyl, most Mobile DJs currently use Compact Discs, computer-based files (such as MP3s), or a combination of sources. In addition, professional-grade equipment created by a variety of companies expressly for Mobile DJing has allowed for faster set-up and break-down, as well as improved quality of performance.

The audiences Mobile DJs play for may be at one of many different types of events including wedding receptions, bar and bat mitzvah receptions, company parties, school dances, anniversaries, birthdays, etc. Mobile DJs also perform in public at bars / taverns, nightclubs, or even at block parties.

Bands had long dominated the wedding entertainment industry, but with the advent of the less expensive and more versatile Mobile DJ, their market share dwindled. Mobile DJs offer the advantage of being able to play music in a wide variety of styles by a wide range of artists, as they use the artists' own original recordings. In addition, audiences or planners that formerly could not afford music for their event are now able to hire a Mobile DJ while still staying within their budget.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Mobile DJs began to form and expand associations and create professional business networks, which now include annual trade shows and Internet discussion forums. Today, many Mobile DJs also promote themselves as an event's planner, organizer, and MC (Master of Ceremonies). Working closely with their customers, their guests, and other vendors (such as venue staff and photographers / videographers), today's professional Mobile DJs strive to provide quality entertainment that fits the event in question in terms of style and performance.

In addition, a good Mobile DJ should be able to play a client's specific requests by incorporating them into a repertoire of party favorites. This is called "reading" the crowd.

Today, a large selection of music, professional-grade equipment, good organizational skills, vocal talent as an MC, mixing skills, quality lighting, insurance for liability, and on-site back-up equipment are all essential customer expectations when purchasing Mobile DJ services.

Some current topics of debate within the professional Mobile DJ community include moving from CDs to MP3s, full-time vs. part-time DJs, pricing, and multi-ops vs. single-ops. (A multi-operator company offers several difference DJs on staff for an event, while a single-operator company is owned and run by one DJ.) The chief argument between most of these positions in the professional Mobile DJ community is that of quantity vs. quality, but the debate itself indicates a thriving professional business community attempting to continually redefine itself for its customers' ever-changing needs.

I've been a mobile DJ for quite a while and now I've gathered enough knowlage to write you about this business!

Our mobile DJ website: www.sonorizare.srv.ro

History Of Hip-Hop

Hip-hop music or rap music is an admired and famous style or genre of music in the USA. This well-known music genre is made up of two components, rapping and record scratching. Rapping is also known as MCing and DJing, which comprises of audio mixing. These two main components combined with graffiti and break dancing form the four core elements of hip-hop.

Hip-hop was initiated as a cultural movement by inner-city youth, mostly Latinos, Hispanics, and African Americans in New York City, in the early seventies. The word "rap" was derived in the sixties, from a slang word that meant conversation.

Hip-hop has two main historical eras, the old school hip-hop era from 1970-1985 and the golden age hip-hop era from 1985-1993. The golden age of hip-hop began only when it entered the mainstream of music and it consolidated the sounds of the West Coast and the East Coast.

The origin of hip-hop music is from African American and West African music. Contributions of griots like The Last Poets, Jalal Mansur Nurriddin, and Gil Scott-Heron were significant in a big way for the advent of hip-hop in the 1960s. Hip-hop had originally begun in the Bronx. Funk and soul music were played a lot in block parties. In the beginning, the DJs at these parties began separating the percussion breaks from hit songs. They started realizing that these breaks were more entertaining and groovy. This technique had become widespread in Jamaica and had spread considerably in the New York community via the Jamaican immigrants.

Kool DJ Herc and Grandmaster Flash were the pioneers in the hip-hop industry and other DJs had extended the short percussion interludes of funk records and created a more danceable sound. As a result, remixes had become popular with the advent of mixing and scratching techniques. Many styles of hip-hop had developed in the golden age of hip-hop.

At present, hip-hop is enjoyed all around the world. In spite, of all the controversies created by hip-hop artists they are still growing in number. Hip-hop music is sold all over the world in stores and even online.

Hip Hop provides detailed information on Hip Hop, Hip Hop And Rap, Hip Hop Music, R&B Hip Hop and more. Hip Hop is affiliated with Karaoke Music [http://www.karaoke-web.com].

DJ Equipment Mixers - Now Equipped With MIDI Support For the Extreme Performance Experience

The new breed of DJ mixers are right there under your fingers --- finally, a gadget that allows both new and professional DJs to blend standard audio are here, plus, additionally allowing them to control virtual DJing software using the same controls on the mixer via MIDI. DJ equipment mixers have never been this mobile and powerful --- and absolutely in.

The coolest thing about a DJ equipment mixer is that it is packed with the aspects of first class DJ gear when it comes to your critical beat-mixing --- your DJ system can now build its own conventional DJ-style music minus the effort of maneuvering a lot of buttons and getting lost in a sea of cables and wires. The main function of DJ equipment mixers is to allow more than one song to play through a sound system at the same time. Your DJ equipment mixers aren't really supposed to scare you --- truth is they were already used from your regular night parties down to wedding receptions, school dances and other events manipulated by the music person, DJ or not. So you'd get pretty familiar with this one in no time.

So let's get a little more acquainted with DJ equipment mixers. There are actually a number of good DJ mixers in the market today --- there are units that are used for some music mixing and matching including dance beats between songs while others are the general mixers that can be used for scratching, mixing dance beats or both. You can pretty much take your pick from the wide array of options available --- you can definitely make your own songs adding up some little wild twists giving you the ultimate personalized music you've always craved for for as long as you can remember.

Another DJ must-have that can definitely get you an upgrade is the MIDI controller. It brings a simple and fixed kind of DJ mixer-style control to the world of computer DJing and live performance but with a touch of "something else". Now whatever that is, is up to you. A MIDI controller does exactly that --- give you power and control in how you would want to progress. You can get perceptible and not so complicated controls for volume, EQ, cueing, pitch, cross fader and a transport with a single USB connection. That is the beauty of laptop computers and mixers --- you get boundless options to bring your electronic performance to the high class category. So remember: if you're looking to get the best kind of DJ equipment mixer, don't forget to check out MIDI supports. You would be missing a lot if you don't.

For more information on what makes a good DJ Equipment Mixer or for more information on DJ Equipment in general.

What Is Hip Hop and How It Originated in New York

Hip Hop was formed as a cultural movement among the youths of New York City. It is made up of four main elements or aspects which are MCing, DJing, graffiti art, and breakdancing. Hip Hop has also become a synonym for rap music but the two should not be interchanged. The word rap is actually ripped off a 1960 slang word for conversation. Rap consists of street poetry that is chanted to the accompaniment of popular disco music or funk recordings.

Gangs are often related or associated with hip hop but the difference between them is that the latter is a bigger cultural movement while the other is only a small part under it. Hip hop was also developed in the 1970s as an alternative culture to the worship of violence often displayed by gangs.

Many sources point towards the direction of the Bronx in New York as the birthplace of hip hop culture. When an expressway was being built at the heart of the Bronx in 1959, the middle classes started leaving the borough.

The exit of these neighborhoods was replaced by poor families that are either black or Hispanic. They brought along unemployment, crime and drug addiction. Due to the continuous exit of middle-classmen, landlords were forced to sell their properties because of too many vacancies. This resulted to abandoned and vacant buildings.

During the deterioration of the borough, the third element of hip hop culture which is graffiti art was born. It began with a group of teenage boys terrorizing the Bronx vicinity. After that, different gang activities started surging and it went on until the next six years. The group was first called the Savage Seven which was later changed to the Black Spades as more members started to join. Later on, the hip hop movement was organized as a powerful alternative against street violence.

There are four elements of Hip Hop. Firstly, MCing. MC is a short term for Masters of Ceremonies. It was generally associated with rapping in the past. Rapping is a form of rhyming the spoken lyrics and is done over musical instruments. Rapping used to be called MCing until such time it became a subset of MCing.

Secondly, DJing. A disc jockey or DJ creates different musical backgrounds by using techniques such as audio mixing, sampling and scratching. They use the music as party entertainment or as backdrops to accompany a rapper. The third element is Graffiti art. It was used by street gangs in the 1950s to promote their groups, mark territories and intimidate enemies. It was also popularized by a mail courier who began writing his name and courier ID in every bus he rode to deliver mails and packages. The fourth element is Breakdancing. This dancing style was born during the time that hip hop music was undergoing developments. The different moves that comprise breakdancing often stretch the human body to the limits.Hip hop began its earlier developments and recognition through block and house parties where DJs provide party entertainment by playing popular music. They created a signature technique called breaks. Later on, the DJs and MCs teamed up to create rap and it became very popular. After that, the influence of hip hop went on to form another subculture which is breakdancing. While the rap music is for turntables and microphones, breakdancing also began invading not only block party floors but also street floors.

Bryce created the Absolute Pitch Simulator, which is a software application to develop Perfect Pitch. It simulates the experience of someone with perfect pitch. You can find out more about it at: perfect pitch trainer

Learn to DJ - Class 1

DJ mixing is all about creating a continuous groove that keeps the dance floor grooving. The DJ blends the end of one record into the beginning of the next by lining up the beats, bars and phrases of the two records and then making a smooth transition from one track to the next.

Beats, bars and phrases are the building blocks of modern music - the beat is the constant pulse which is present in every song (even when the drums aren't playing). Beats are most easily identified in House or Garage tunes when the bass drum thuds once on each beat. The speed of the beat is called the "tempo" and is measured in beats per minute or "BPM". A slow tune (R&B or Hip Hop for example) might have a tempo of around 98 BPM, while faster tunes (in Drum n Bass for example) can reach a tempo of 170BPM.

To get started, choose a tune and play it on the first deck, then choose a second tune (roughly the same BPM as the first) and play it on the second deck but without turning up its volume in the main mix, so that you can hear it only in your headphones.

When both records are playing together, it quickly becomes clear that the beats of the two records won't stay in synch unless they are running at the same BPM. Use the speed control (or "BPM Slider") to speed up or slow down one of the two records until the two BPMs are the same.

To perform a simple Drop Mix, when the first record gets near its end start the second record from the beginning and, in order to make a smooth transition, use the "cross-fader" (the sideways fader at the bottom of the mixer) to switch from the first record to the second.

To perform a Beat Mix, the DJ has to physically manipulate the records so that the beats of both tunes line up in synch. When mixing with real vinyl on a deck with a slip mat, this means he has to "grab" the record, by stopping it physically with one hand on the surface and, making sure the needle always stays in the groove, wind it forwards or backwards (but without ever pressing too hard so the platter underneath doesn't stop).

If you are interested in exploring the craft of djing further you might want to look at more detailed resources on dj skills and dj courses

www.pointblanklondon.com

DJ Hero - Review From a Real Battle DJ

Activision has released DJ Hero, the latest and greatest in the music/gaming industry. First, let me give you my experience with DJing. I'm a Hip Hop Battle DJ that has competed in many competitions, but have yet to win first. Been close, but that doesn't count, anyway, on with my review/opinion.

First, I was very excited to see the DJ Hero commercial the other night. Finally, a DJ simulation that has the look and feel of real DJ'ing. The game itself is packaged with a turntable and a mixer designed to integrate with your xBox, Wii, or PS2/3. Out of the box, you can start to mix down songs just like a real DJ.

The turntable/mixer combo can be configured for either lefties, or righties, which is a very nice feature. I, as being right handed, but in my mixing and scratching, I'm more of a lefty, go figure. The turntable rotates just as a real turntable does, but is not motor driven. The turntable also contains three buttons (green, red, blue) which are used to assist in the game play, and perform functions such as queuing songs, or indicating which track you are scratching with. I find this to be a very interesting concept, as it will give you the feel of really scratching songs without having to spend thousands on DJ equipment, as I have.

The track list is very extensive as well, and poses some very interesting combinations of songs to mix down. Some of the more interesting mixes, to me at least are:


50 Cent - "Disco Inferno" vs. David Bowie - "Let's Dance"
Beastie Boys - "Intergalactic" vs. Blondie - "Rapture"
Black Eyed Peas - "Boom Boom Pow" vs. Benny Benassi - "Satisfaction"
Eminem - "My Name Is" vs. Beck - "Loser"
Jay-Z - "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" vs. Eminem - "My Name Is"

With over 90 different songs in the track listing, this game looks to bridge the gap of people that have always wanted to try to DJ, but did not want to shell out the money for a turntable setup - which can get very expensive. Trust me on that.

Check out my full review of DJ Hero here:

DJ Hero Review

Thanks for reading!

DJ Statik

Become a DJ - Getting a DJ Gig

When learning how to become a DJ there are many ways you can go about getting your first DJ gig. Firstly thought before you even consider your first DJ gig, you need to have put the hours of practice in your bedroom to make sure you are ready to take the opportunity with both hands when it presents itself.

I've meet loads of people over the years, some even friends that have made the plunge and invested in the full DJ set up and the one thing that makes the real DJ's stand out from all the other 'want to be DJ's' is practice, and lots of it!

An amateur practices till they get it right

A professional practices until they can't get it wrong!

So let's assume you have put the time and effort into practice and you're ready for your first club DJ gig!

The first thing that you need to do once you have learnt how to DJ is go out and inject yourself into the clubbing community or scene that you want to be a part of, and in particular the club that you want to play your first gig at. You not only need to inject yourself into that community but you need to become a part of it.

You have to be prepared to do whatever it takes. You could offer to help on the door, promote, hand out flyers, collect emails, pick up glasses, work behind the bar, pretty much anything to get your foot in that back door.

Once you are in you need to gain respect by working hard and by being passionate about what you're doing as well as your music and what you want to achieve with it.

I am a firm believer that you create your own luck when learning how to become a DJ, people will pick up on your passion and vibe and you will notice opportunities will start to present themselves. You will start to get invited to private house parties and start to build friendships with like minded people.

The entire time you will be giving out endless copies of your professional looking kick arse demo CD's, right?...

Always have your headphones and tune's ready to go!

Once you start becoming a familiar face at the club and the promoters and club owners start to feel your vibe and passion for the music and the club it will only be a matter of time till they get a DJ that doesn't show up - by strategically putting yourself in the right position and at the right time you will get your opportunity, that is a guarantee.

DJ's don't turn up all the time, flight delays, double bookings, wrong dates, lack of commitment, car break downs, airport rides' not turning up the list goes on. This is you backdoor entrance!

No matter how unrealistic or competitive it is getting in the front door, if you do the right things and are prepared to get your hands dirty handing out flyers or just generally volunteering your services to help the club owners and promoters out your time will come.

Are you ready though?

The thing I keep going back to is that you need to be ready. Remember if you get a gig this way it is out of desperation, after all you are filling a slot at the 11th hour, so you need to be doubly ready to make sure that you blow the club owners, promoters and most importantly dance floor out of the water with your confidence, charisma, music selection and seamless mixing.

If you've truly put the time in to being ready for your opportunity, you will be in a position to make the most of it, the right people will take notice and your DJing journey will have begun. The flipside - if you're not ready your DJing journey will be over before it even begins.

This leaves two questions:


Have you done the hard work and left no stone un-turned practicing in your bedroom?
Are you prepared to get your hands dirty and do whatever it takes to get your foot in the door?

If you can hand on heart answer yes to both the above questions, then you know what to do! So good luck and as always keep me posted because it's your success stories that keep me motivated!

Learn how to become a DJ online with DJ Master Course the Worlds First and Still Only Professional Step-by-Step Online Interactive How to DJ Course. Learning how to become a DJ online has never been easier!

Why I Love Vinyl - And You Should Too!

This post is dedicated to Vinyl Records.

I love vinyl. I love vinyl more than I love apple pie a la mode. More than sunsets on the beach. Even more than a lot of people I know.

I have been an all-vinyl DJ for 8 years now, and have been told several times that I'd "have to" go to digital. Have to? Go to digital? That's like telling Paula Deen she'd have to stop using butter. It's against my religion.

Why have I chose to live purely in the analog world? Don't I need to use a computer to DJ?

Well I'm glad you asked.

1. Vinyl is REAL

I'm not talking about "keeping it real" here (more on that later). I'm saying vinyl is a physical object. Not just some file sitting somewhere in my computer. A file is zero's and one's. I can hold a record in my hand. I own it. It's mine. I can take it out whenever I want. And my computer doesn't even have to be on!

2. Vinyl Has Monetary and Sentimental Value

How much are the 100,000 mp3s on your computer worth? Hmmm. Hard to say. You may have bought them for a dollar (or so) each, but are they really WORTH anything? Well, my vinyl collection- it's worth a lot. And it'll be worth more the longer I have it.

There is so much more WORTH to vinyl that's not monetary. I remember exactly where I was, who I was with, and what the weather was like when I found a record I had been searching for for years. How excited I was to have the record in my hand, see the cover, play it, and take it home, and play it again and again! Every time I take the record out I feel that same emotion. It brings back great memories. Which brings me to my next point...

3. Digging

Digging for vinyl is an experience in itself. For one- there's the excitement of finding records you've been looking for. But digging is also a social experience. You are in a store with like-minded people- being around people who love music as much as you do is enlightening. Digging in the crates also teaches you more about the music itself. You may pick up a record and listen to it and open up your world to a whole new artist or genre. Digging itself is an art- ask anyone who's done it!

4. It Sounds Better

Music on vinyl sounds richer, fuller, and just better. I once played at a club and the owner came up and told me that their sound system sounded awesome that night. It's because they were used to digital DJs, and in comparison, vinyl was superior!

5. The Original Art of DJing Was On Vinyl

If you don't know where you've come from, you won't know where you're going. Respect the pioneers, learn the craft, and pay homage to them.

6. It Makes Me A Better DJ

Ask any DJ and they'll tell you- mixing on vinyl is more difficult. That's why I suggest everyone starting to DJ learns on vinyl. You'll be a better DJ at the end. I use my ears to mix, not my laptop. There are "DJ" programs out there right now that do all the work for you. It's a sad state of affairs. It's the difference between play "Rock Band" and actually knowing how to play guitar.

7. I Don't Want To Look Like I'm Checking Facebook

Sure, this may be a more vain reason, but seriously. Have you seen these DJs with their head in the laptop the ENTIRE night? Man, what are they doing? Playing solitaire, reading emails, working on an Excel Spreadsheet? There's a crowd out there- you might want to check them out!

8. I Care About The Music I Play

Every single record I own I actually LIKE. And I get hired to play the type of music I like. On the other hand, if I were a Wedding DJ- catering to the bride and groom who want "The Chicken Dance"... well... I can understand why some DJs go that way. I don't want to own any Lady Gaga records. So I don't play those gigs. On a side note: DJs you do have a choice! Get gigs that hire you to play what you want to play!

9. My Records Will Never Crash

There are so many examples I could use here. I'm sure you've experienced dead air at a show. Even Top DJs at Top Shows have succumb to the crashed laptop. This would never happen if the DJ brought vinyl. If you're going to play a laptop- BRING BACKUP MUSIC.

10. People Have To Know What Good DJs Sound Like

I think people these days are getting used to dead air in the club. Bad mixes. And DJs who play on iPads. *shudder* That's why I'm writing this article. Join me in the vinyl revolution. Demand talented DJs in the club. They can be vinyl or digital DJs, just make sure they're good- and professional, and please make sure they're actually doing the work- and not the computer.

S. Leung is affiliated with Calsound.com [http://www.calsound.com/home.php], an online retail store for DJs by DJs since 1997. Calsound sells everything a DJ needs from DJ equipment to music and accessories. Get 10% Off your vinyl record purchase by using coupon code 'VinylLover'

DJ Tips & Tricks - 5 DJ Tips & Tricks You Need To Have To Make It As A DJ

There are lots of beginner DJ's out there on the net looking for DJ tips and tricks &

techniques. They are looking information on how to make it as a Dj! In this article we will

talk about some of the DJ tips and tricks a Dj will need to have when performing as an

entertainer to their audience.

1. One tip you need to have down to a "T" is your ability to make people dance at an event in

which you are DJing at. Having a good knowledge of music is the first thing you need to have

as a skill. Some DJ's play at events that require a vast knowledge of music, while some DJ's

play at more niche events like Hip-hop gigs or dance music events etc.. First find your style

of music and go from there...

2. Another tip to understand these days is that being a DJ is all about performance! You as

the DJ are responsible for not only entertaining people with music, but for a whole package!

This includes things like music, lighting & sound, smoke machine etc.. This is what I'm

talking about with having the whole package!

3. There was a time when the DJ's job was to just stand behind the turntables and play music

to an audience in a club or an event. Life was a little dull back then and DJing wasn't so

adventurous! However times have changed indeed! These days a DJ is a lot more of a peoples

person. Modern DJ's are the pin point of the event. So release that popularity has been

brought into the game as a DJ. You need to relate to People and have that personality as you

are the star of the show!!

4. Being a DJ is fun! But it does have its downsides too... What am I talking about here?

Well... DJing is a very unsocial able job in the sense that it restricts you from having fun

at the weekend nights like every Joe Soap does... If the idea of working late at weekend

nights scares you... then perhaps you may want to reconsider the Idea of becoming a DJ. With

that said, I personally don't mind this at all.. In fact, working as a DJ and entertaining a

crowd is one of the best feelings you can ever have and I wouldn't give it up for the world!

5. Besides playing music to an audience and depending on what type of DJ you will be, it is

always good to keep up with trends as music evolves so much. Learning new skills is vital to

maintaining yourself as a DJ. Whether it is learning to mix, scratch, perform music off a

laptop or even downloading music of a PC... develop new skills that will make you a better DJ

and performer.

Well there you have it, I hope that these DJ tips & tricks will help you on your way to

becoming a successful DJ. Following these pointers will certainly lead you in the right

direction!

Yo DJ! Are you interested in finding more DJ tips & tricks? Interested in learning how to beat mix, scratch etc? Tired of searching the net for tutorials that give away limited info? Want to learn from a proven method that has helped hundreds if not thousands of beginner/intermediate DJs? Then please visit DJ Tips & Tricks, or visit http://www.musicinstrumentreview.info/djtipstricks.html

Learn to DJ - DJ Tips & Tricks

When learning to DJ, you should try to practice on someone else's DJ equipment to start off. Before you go out and buy all that expensive DJ equipment yourself, you want to make sure you know it's something you really want to do. The learning curve with DJing is much steeper on cheap, bad DJ equipment. So use a friend's equipment first, and if you like it, then invest in some quality DJ equipment. You'll learn to DJ faster with good equipment.

How to Mix

DJ mixing is the act of smoothly transitioning from one track into another. This is the first step to learn how to DJ. While the DJ has one song playing out to the crowd, he has to "mix" a second song into the first without stopping. This serves two purposes.

It sounds better
Keeps more people on the dance floor if the music never stops

There are two main parts to correctly mastering a basic DJ mix.

Match the Volume

The first part of learning how to mix is matching up the volume of the two songs. You don't want to mix the second song into the first if it's too loud or not loud enough. It won't sound good. So a DJ can use the LED level indicator lights on his DJ mixer, as well as his headphones to check the sound level of the new song he plans to mix.

The lights are a visual representation of the sound coming from each music source (turntables, CD players, etc.) The lights should peak at around the same spot for each side if the sound levels are matched up correctly.

DJ headphones can also be used to check the sound levels. A good DJ tip is to use a DJ mixer with a split cue setting. This way, the DJ can learn to listen to one song in one ear, and the other song in the other ear. Listening to them both play at the same time will help determine if the sound levels match.

Beat Matching

The second part of learning how to mix is to match the Beats Per Minute of the songs. Also called the "BPM", this is how many beats the song has in one minute. It measures the speed of the song. If the BPM of both songs are not matched, the mix will turn into what is called a trainwreck. DJ Tip: It sounds pretty bad, and people will run for the door!

As with matching the volume, beat matching can be done with both the LED level lights on the mixer (watch the beat), and the DJ headphones (listen to the beat). The DJ must cue up the next record he plans to play, by playing it in his headphones only. So the current song can be heard by the crowd, but not the next song he plans to play. The DJ must then attempt to match the BPM of the new song with the one that is already playing to the crowd. This is done by listening to the song that is playing out loud with one ear out in the open, and using his headphones on the other ear to preview his cued up song.

The DJ then uses the pitch adjustments on his turntables or CD players to speed up or slow down the new track until it matches the one that is already playing. Once it is matched up, he can slowly fade in the new song while simultaneously fading out the old song. If done properly, the mix should sound great.

These are just basic tips & tricks to learn to DJ. If you'd like to learn more advanced skills and DJ tricks, including how to market and promote yourself as a club DJ, check out: DJ Tips

JP Coupe is a full time professional club DJ with 10 years of experience. He teaches skills and techniques to succeed in the DJ industry. For more advanced DJ tips and advice, check out Learn to DJ

A Soldier, a Saint, an Ocean Explorer? What Would They Be Doing If They Didn't Work at SWAT?

Disclaimer: This is a complete work of fiction and satire, if you are looking for fitness tips or nutritional advice, you will not find it here. What you will find is a few good laughs, some wit and maybe even a little sarcasm. While the names are real, all similarities to actual events are strictly coincidental and unintended.

I recently received an item from a mysterious individual. His identity must remain mystery to all of you, as knowledge of his powers would be too much for this world to bear. I vowed that I would remain discreet throughout our transaction and I intend to hold up my side of the bargain. Consider this my, "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you" declaration. But I digress... on to the item that I now possess. This item can tell many truths about individuals, truths that they might not want you (or anyone) to know. With basic background information, this device has allowed me to look deep into the souls of the few selected for my experiment. I learned things about their pasts, their futures and deep dark secrets held by these individuals. The power of this device may be too great for one man to hold alone; therefore I will share some of this information with you. I have looked into some of your favorite SWAT trainers and the device has answered the old question, "Just what would they do if they were not trainers at SWAT?" Unfortunately, my research has only stretched as far as SWAT East at present.

Mike Lacoss - Wedding DJ Extraordinaire.

Mike's professional demeanor is outweighed only by his desire to have a good time. His love of dance music and motivating people made him an exceptionally qualified candidate for the International Academy of Wedding DJs (I know, I was shocked that this was a real place too). Although the work was difficult and often times tedious, Mike pressed on and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the prestigious institution, almost guaranteeing him the top wedding DJ assignments in the US and abroad.

Mike spent his first few years mastering his craft at local and regional weddings where you could hear his, now legendary, mixes and positive affirmations. He could be heard far and wide saying things like "this next track goes out to all the ladies out there," or correcting dysfunctional dance move technique. Mike was steadily becoming the best wedding DJ in the US and continued to land the best gigs available and he was world renown for his incomparable ability to help the bride and groom cash-in big time during the money dance. However, it wasn't until a few years into his career that he developed what one observer called "the greatest wedding mix of all time." You see, it was around this time that Mike was called in by a bride-to-be to save her wedding from the horrific DJing of her soon to be brother in law. Mike, no stranger to the big-time jumped at the opportunity, but he knew that he had to bring something extra special to this party. He racked his brain for days contemplating something that would really blow the minds of the party guests, and, as legend has it, he did.

The night of the wedding was upon him and he pulled out all the best DJ tricks, he had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand, but what he did next was entirely unexpected. I want you to think back to any wedding you have ever been to and catalog the songs you remember hearing at each one. The list should read something like this: Shout, The Electric Slide, YMCA and The Twist. If your list is different, you are luckier than most... I suppose. Those four songs are forever linked to every wedding in the last 30 years, and Mike knew it. But, Mike also knew that the songs were old and stale. His solution was to combine the best parts of each of the four songs into one mega song, and then he took the mega song and put it over a traditional techno beat. He had just invented the world's greatest bad wedding song mix-tape. He introduced the song as "DJ Mike's Chip Away Wedding Mega Mix" and played the song for the crowd. The crowd stood motionless and speechless in awe of a true master of his craft; that is, until the catchiness of the music made it impossible for anyone not to dance. Immediately after the song's conclusion the crowd erupted into applause and whistles; a standing ovation so uproarious that people up to 3 miles away have been reported to have heard it. Mike Lacoss had arrived, and he was never leaving his spot as DJ number one.

Recently, Mike was called in to DJ the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton and rumor has it, his new mixes even got the Queen to show off her "Straight Outta Buckingham" dance moves.

Shaun Hazelton - UPS Delivery Driver

After Shaun's football career was ended by a terrible muscle-up injury, he was down and out. He still had the drive to succeed and an un-quenchable thirst for competition. One day, while doing his 20 rep-max barbell squats in the garage he saw a very aloof and lazy UPS man delivering packages to the house next door. Shaun barked up from his last squat and yelled at the UPS man, "Hey, you are a joke! I bet I could do your job twice as well as you." The UPS man replied, "mind your business you bearded freak, you don't have what it takes for this job... and put a shirt on." That was all the motivation Shaun needed.

Shaun went down to UPS that same day and regaled the managers with his motivation and self confidence. He was hired on the spot and assigned to the UPS training center. During his training he was known for his ability to charm the delivery recipient with his positive attitude and love for his job. He was then assigned his own delivery route, in blisteringly hot Arizona. Now, I am not going to say that he made the short brown shorts famous, but let's just say that with quads like that; he certainly made the wardrobe popular amongst certain circles.

Shaun still drives his original route and has the highest lifetime delivery rate of any driver in UPS history; he is exceptionally committed to his craft. One particular instance shows this fact in great detail. It was the dead of winter in Arizona (which means that it was about 85 degrees) and he had just delivered a large package to an empty house. As he was getting back into the truck he witnessed a large brown bear (which do not exist in Arizona) walk onto the porch attempting to grab the package. Knowing that his delivery rate was in jeopardy, Shaun leaped out of the square, brown delivery vehicle and attacked the bear. He body slammed the beast to the ground and proceeded to beat it with a tire iron he kept in the truck. The bear eventually submitted, and retreated back into the forest (what?). Shaun, with his uniform in tatters and bleeding from several flesh wounds remained calm, gathered himself and continued on with his deliveries. From then on, all the fake Arizona bears knew to go nowhere near Shaun's UPS truck. A bear researcher recently uncovered a bear cave with many hieroglyphics depicting the battle, Shaun is shown as a large, muscular being with bright red eyes, a beard so burly it would make Waylon Jennings jealous and the title of "Papa Grande."

In a recent, rare interview conducted with Shaun, he told the reporter that he is in training for the UPSFit games, a package delivery competition that encompasses the 10-elements of sound package delivery.  These movements are done at carrying speeds and intensities and only one man will be crowned "Fittest (to deliver packages) on Earth."

Eugene McDougal - Bandleader, Gene and the Argonauts

Gene, once a promising pseudo-nuclear physicist decided to put his career on hold to focus on his first passion, music. Gene came to this decision after he was discovered by a talent scout when he was pulled on-stage at a Sarah McLaughlin concert to sing backup on "I will remember you." His voice was so enchanting, the scout knew he had to make a deal. The scout approached Gene and asked him if he ever considered a career in music. Gene, without hesitation, said "yes." The scout told him that he had something very special and he would like to hear more from him. Gene obliged and invited the scout out to listen to his band, Gene and the Argonauts, practice. The scout met with Gene and his band and listened to them run through their set and signed them to his record label on-the-spot, even though the band was not a typical act that the record label would sign. You see, Gene and the Argonauts were a lounge band, and not just any lounge band, they were the greatest lounge band in the world. They had been mesmerizing Tucson lounge patrons for years with their lounge interpretations of popular songs. Who could forget these timeless classics: a take on the Britney Spears song, "Hit me Baby, One More Lime," or the interpretation of the Georgia Satellites classic, "Keep your Martini Top Shelf." Gene and the Argonauts were already a Tucson night club mainstay, but they were destined for greatness. The band is now lighting up the stage at various nightclubs in the biggest cities in the world wowing audiences with hits ranging from the Jay-Z inspired "99 Vodkas," and "Big Sippin" or spoofs on Police songs like "Merlot in a Bottle" and "Can't Stand Boozing You."

Kory Faber - Proprietor, Marlee and Me Doggy Day Care and Pup Scrub

The only thing Kory loves more than a brutal metcon or marathon rowing session is his dog, Murph. When Kory left the Airforce he fell in love with an adorable little puppy that he eventually named Murph. Murph went everywhere with Kory and everyone was happy to see him, giving him treats and lots of attention. Murph ate so many treats as a puppy, he was able to make bodyweight gains of 30% every week. This posed a problem for Kory because Murph was getting too big for the small dog pet-care centers and was still too small for the large dog pet care centers.

It was around this time that Kory's daughter, Marlee, brilliantly decided that they should open their own and Marlee and Me Doggy Day Care was born. Kory worked tirelessly to accommodate all the dogs, so much so that he even had to institute a waiting list. I have heard rumors that the waiting list is 100 names long and growing. Kory treats all the dogs just like his own, discipline and all. Kory has been known to make whiny dogs run up to 5k and clinically restrict and monitor certain overweight dog's diets.

Kory has recently taken an interest in helping overweight dogs drop those unwanted pounds. Some dogs are defiant at first, but a few days on Kory's weight loss system will have them fit and ready to carry the largest bone in the yard. Kory later found having so many dogs around was great for morale, but bad for air quality. You know, because dogs stink... He then decided to open a subsidiary business in the form of a Pup Scrub. It was here that Kory learned he could wash the dogs all at once and dry them off with the wind created by a Concept2 Rower.

Kory can be seen all over town walking 15 or more dogs at a time, all in perfect step with the rest because they know that one false move will mean extra work for them. Kory refuses to work with clients that question his methods, and why should he? He has a long waiting list, the business is booming and he doesn't have to fight with anyone.

I would be remissed if I didn't look into my own alternative life, so...

Tyler Nachtman - Corporate Sensitivity Trainer

As many of you know, Tyler is a graduate of the very liberal University of Oregon, a university that some have referred to as "Berkeley North." At first, Tyler was appalled by the wildly left-wing, often times socialist collegiate environment, but something changed. Like the Grinch who stole Christmas, witnessing the kindness and compassion of the trinket-trading hippies and borderline transients, Tyler's heart grew 3 sizes.

Rather than continuing on with his very practical studies in economics, Tyler changed his major to the more love-dovey, Social Sensitivity and Modern Compassion studies. Instead of focusing on concrete, logical things like numbers and equations, Tyler read books on topics like the "duality of being" and "humanistic philosophy." Classes were not graded because grades create social classes and we are all one people. Tyler graduated at the top of his class, just like everyone else in his major, and went on to do sensitivity consulting with many Fortune 500 companies. His workshops removed all rank structure from the organization and people were free to speak their minds, as long as they didn't say anything that was provocative or would possibly offend anyone. He opened his workshops with a one hour meditation and reflection period where attendees were asked to expel negative energy from their sub-conscious. This hour concluded with vegan, gluten-free smoothies and a 15 minute hugging session where attendees could show their compassion for total strangers.

Tyler became one of the top sensitivity trainers in the country and he made a great fortune, but because money was less important that love and compassion, he donated the majority of it to charities that supported different causes around the world. Unfortunately, the American way of life was too capitalistic for Tyler and his frustration with greedy executives and wall-street fat cats finally took a toll on him. He moved out of the country a few years ago to live with a small aboriginal tribe somewhere in the Congo. Sadly, Tyler has never been heard from since.

Life Coach and Author Jana Beutler Holland, M.Ed., is a former English Teacher, Therapist, and Juvenile Probation Officer.

After years of working in the fields of Education and Law Enforcement, Jana's interest in helping delinquent youths led naturally into a graduate program in Counseling. She received a Masters in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling in 2001. She is a National Board Certified Counselor, and is 2005 President of the Adlerian Society of Arizona (an affiliate of the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology).

She is founder and Director of Life in Motion Coaching, a company providing life coaching, health, fitness, and wellness coaching. She and her husband own SWAT (Strength Wellness Athletic Training), a personal fitness training company in Tucson, Arizona.

Jana uses her expertise and experience in education and counseling by specializing in life and lifestyle coaching for clients needing guidance and accountability in reaching personal, professional, and/or or fitness and weight loss goals.

Visit her blog at http://www.swatfitness.com/swatguy
or visit the SAWAT Personal Training Tucson website at http://www.swatfitness.com

A Question of Choice

When I was younger I used to love to go "clubbing". Friends of mine were top DJs playing with Sasha, Digweed and Nigel Benn. Their mixing was flawless and the tune selection always moved the crowd. I learned a lot about djing through them. Although I wasn't a dance DJ I learned how to construct sets and I was, by all accounts (not mine), a great dj. The proof of this was in the calibre of gigs that I got. I was a mobile music man doing 21sts, weddings, 50ths as well as some plug in and play gigs around town too. I still love the dance music but as a father of two, it's not easy to get out that much any more and although I stay young at heart, I know that if I were to appear at one of those places, they'd look at me funny. And with good reason. I'm only 40 btw.

One of the things I remember from those heady days was the signs. When a great track would come on some people would hold up a card with "CHOON" or "TOON" written on it. "CHEWIN'" may have been closer to the point. If you were a clubba, you understand. So it got me thinking. I write notes phonetically sometimes such as Thank Ewe or refer to today as Chewsday or even Chooseday. One day I stopped to take a look at what I'd written, Chooseday.

The shortest and most powerful sentence in the English language is "I am". Full and complete. It's the answer to a question and it's a statement. It's a very powerful statement. I am. Say it out loud in front of a mirror. Look yourself deep in the eyes and day "I am". I'm puffing out my chest just writing it! I am. Amazing. Powerful. So what does "I" do then to reinforce this fact? Descartes said "Cogito ergo sum", I think therefore I am. That was in the days before television though. Instead of a lack of education to control the masses these days, I believe that people in a position of power use the television. It keeps the masses docile and let's them know what to think. Research has shown, in fact, that television causes mild depression. Once we watch TV we don't have to think. Like a scene from The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams, we should, according to Descartes, disappear when we watch it. Ok, so I'm being facile.

I believe that the best thing the "I" can do to affirm her or his power as an individual is to consciously say "I choose...", I Am So I Choose. This is simple in its concept but boy oh boy, does it have a lot of weight by its implications. Think about it, I Am So I Choose. Well suddenly this means I'm not a victim of circumstance anymore. Whatever is happen in my life is not because of something that is happening "out there". Now I have to take responsibility for my actions. I wasn't late because the traffic was so heavy, I was late because I didn't leave in time to factor in a traffic jam. I'm unfit because I choose not to exercise as much as I should. I not not an entrepreneur because I choose not to leave the herd or my comfort zone.

Two-and-a-half years ago, I would have found that very harsh. "What do you mean I'm stuck behind a desk because I choose to be?! I have a family and mortgage and yady ya ya..." That was me, really. I used to say and still say Yady ya. Then I started down the road of personal development. You see that word there before "development"? It's "personal". I'm choosing to develop myself and in a personal way. I'm not looking to change everything around me first. Why? Because as I development myself, sure as God made little green apples (it's from a song), my environment will develop with me. And so, at the end of the day, it's my choice. It's my day to choose happiness (see Andy Andrews book The Traveller's Gift on happiness as a choice), to choose success and to choose to be grateful for what I have. Everyday for me is a Chooseday because I am. So perhaps start today, Tuesday, to consciously make a choice to do something with your "I". It doesn't have to be a trip to the moon, just start your sentence with "I choose to...".

So just before I choose to wrap up here, I choose not to watch much television. In fact, public figures have died without me knowing, global disasters have occurred without me knowing until a few days later and I can tell you now, I don't miss it. And although I'm not a mutli-millionaire right now through choices that I had made, now it's just a matter of time. I choose to be successful so I choose that actions that are going to get me there. And how do I know I'm going to get there? Because it's not over until I win. Make it a great Chooseday, whatever day it is.

I am a sat-at-home father of 1 (so far. We plan more) and I live in Ireland. I am only new to being a father and loving it. I have been working this business since October 2007 with great success and I personally believe that everyone should at least be aware that they have a choice on how they spend their time to generate an income. I can be found at http://www.thepathichoose.com or I would appreciate any comments at my my blog http://adadsuccess.blogspot.com/

Together, we're better.

Cheap DJ Equipment For Beginner DJs - Tips, Advice And Reviews On Budget Gear

Cheap DJ equipment in the US can roll in at around $150-300 (a bit more in the rest of the world) and with that you can get nifty full DJ controller with headphones. These controllers are fine for house parties, little college raves, and getting your skills honed.

After this, hopefully you'll earn some cash and be able to invest in some mid range digital DJ gear and get to play in clubs.

But all this depends on you and if you are motivated enough to infect enough people with your party music and make them dance. More on that later.

Let's take a look at how to get yourself on the DJ ladder with some cheap DJ equipment that rocks.

1. ION Audio Discover

This is the lowest bargain price controller on the market. It's great for a bit of fun and if you're not really trying to play anywhere but at home and at friends' parties.

The best thing is that the ION Audio iCUE3 Discover DJ System is very easy to learn to use and you can read and mix directly from your i-tunes library, rather than having to reorganise your music.

If you want more from DJing then it's best to spend more cash, but for a bit of fun it's a smart little console that looks cool too.

2. Hercules DJ Control MP3

This little demon of a controller really surprised everyone in the DJ world with it's great value for quality.

Reasonably robust for an amazingly low $89 price, you can cook up a nice little party mix with all the basic mixing functions.

It's user friendly, easy to learn, you can loop sections of tracks, record your mix and it's easy to carry with you.

3. Hercules MK4

Again from Hercules, who dominate the entry level digital DJ gear market with their cool little great value consoles, the MK4 is well worth your cash. You could probably even get some small bar and party gigs using this.

With Virtual DJ included, the MK4 is really light and has good, strong buttons and nobs,

You can even customise the buttons to your style, which is unique for it's $99 price tag.

Again, all the basic DJ mixing functions are included and work well. It's a similar machine to the Hercules DJ Control MP3 but with a different finish.

If you prefer this metallic finishing, with nice solid buttons, then this is for you.

4. Numark MIXTRACK DJ Software Controller

Numark are a much respected and reliable name in the DJ industry and it shows with this cool little entry level controller, the Numark MIXTRACK DJ Software Controller.

Why is it any good?

What I like is the price and the fact that it feels like you're actually mixing, rather than twiddling buttons. Having platters with manual control on the tracks, decent standard effects and Traktor included, what can you say? Well, you can say you'll need a soundcard.

If you have a decent one already in your laptop that's great. If you don't, then then the Numark MIXTRACK PRO is what you need. I highly recommend this little beast for value.

Over to you to find cheap DJ equipment.

This review and many more other DJ tips, reviews, advice and a free guide to getting DJ gigs can be found at The Total DJ